By Kruster Evans 
On October 30, the Korean court will hold its final hearing and deliver the verdict concerning the South Korean group.
NewJeans, who have recently started operating under the name NJZ, are facing decisive moments. This Thursday, October 30, at 9:30 a.m. KST, the court will announce its final decision in the case — determining whether the group, made up of Minji, Danielle, Hyein, Hanni, and Haerin, will remain under the ADOR agency or separate from it.
The support of fans, known as Bunnies, has been evident across social media in recent days, with calls to stay tuned and show solidarity with the group during these crucial hours.
Due to the time difference, support in Western Hemisphere countries begins on Wednesday, October 29.
The background of this hearing dates back to the public fallout between NewJeans and their original agency ADOR (a subsidiary of the HYBE group). In November 2024, the members announced the unilateral termination of their exclusive contract, arguing that ADOR had failed to fulfill key protection and management obligations.
ADOR, on the other hand, claimed that the contract remains fully valid and took the matter to court to have its legitimacy recognized. The agency also obtained an injunction preventing the group from carrying out independent activities without its authorization.
The dispute is not only about the use of the group’s name but also about creative autonomy, power structures within major K-pop labels, and the artists’ right to control their own careers. Specifically, the removal of Min Hee-jin as ADOR’s CEO — who had been instrumental in the group’s development — is seen as a key trigger of the conflict.
Now, with the October 30 hearing as a pivotal date, both the group’s defense and the agency await a verdict that could redefine NJZ’s future: whether they will be free to pursue new directions and use their name, or whether they must remain under ADOR’s management until the end of their contract. The impact goes beyond a simple legal battle — it touches on how rights, artistic identity, and agency are negotiated within the global K-pop system.